Sam Bennett is no stranger to controversy, especially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Florida Panthers forward found himself at the center of it again during Game 1 of the second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Midway through the second period, while Florida was on the power play, Bennett delivered an elbow to the head of Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz as he skated through the crease.
No penalty was called on the play, and roughly ten minutes later, Stolarz appeared to vomit on the bench before exiting the game. He was later taken to the hospital for further evaluation and has since been released. Despite the overall concern of the incident, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety is not expected to hand down any supplementary discipline. Bennett will be in the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.
Report: Panthers' Bennett Not Expected To Face Supplemental Discipline For Hit On Maple Leafs' StolarzIt doesn't appear as though Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett will receive any supplemental discipline for his hit on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Speaking about the topic following Game 1 and again on Tuesday morning, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice wasn’t interested in entertaining the controversial act from his player. Instead, he suggested the incident was being blown out of proportion while other questionable hits went unnoticed.
“I’ve seen every hit that Sam Bennett's thrown since he was 12 years old on TV this morning. Go ahead, run with it. We’re good, the puck’s going to drop,” said Maurice at his presser Tuesday morning.
“There were far more egregious collisions in that game last night, but we won't be talking about those,” he added.
"There were far more egregious collisions in that game last night but we won't be talking about those"
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 6, 2025
Paul Maurice on Bennett/Stolarz collision. pic.twitter.com/axY5vEYErf
But there's a good reason for the conversation, given the lengthy history on Bennett’s resume. While Florida's bench boss may want to brush it off, the reality is that Bennett’s controversial plays have become a pattern, and the need is to protect the players.
Controversial History
The discourse surrounding the topic is elevated because of the player himself. Bennett, who was drafted in 2004, has a long history of controversial incidents, stemming back to his time with the Calgary Flames. Since 2018, there have been nine notable examples of borderline or disputed plays involving the Panthers forward, several of which occurred during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
December 2018: Match penalty for a hit to Radim Simek (San Jose Sharks) – Simek Concussion… No supplementary discipline.
May 2021 (playoffs): Charging minor for a hit to Blake Coleman (Tampa Bay Lightning) – one-game suspension.
January 2022: Illegal check to the head of Cedric Paquette, no penalty (Montreal Canadiens) – Paquette neck injury, did not return – three-game suspension.
May 2023 (playoffs): No call for the takedown of Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Concussion, missed the rest of the series – No supplementary discipline.
May 2023 (playoffs): Cross-check minor to head/neck of Michael Bunting (Toronto Maple Leafs) – $5,000 fine.
May 2024 (playoffs):No penalty for a punch to the head of Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins) – Marchand missed two games, no supplementary discipline.
June 2024 (playoffs): Collision/Tripping with Stuart Skinner (Edmonton Oilers), no penalty, no supplementary discipline.
January 2025: Punch/late hit to Mathieu Joseph (Ottawa Senators), 10-minute misconduct, $5,000 fine.
May 2025 (playoffs): Elbow to the head of Anthony Stolarz (Toronto Maple Leafs), no penalty,no supplementary discipline expected, Stolarz hospitalized, status unknown.
From this list, the Maple Leafs appear three times with an incident in both of the previous two meetings in the postseason.
As a repeat offender, Bennett has been involved in at least one incident each year since 2021. In total, the 28-year-old has been suspended for four games and received two fines ($10,000). Despite a handful of incidents, especially in the postseason, Bennett has frequently avoided further discipline, a trend that continues to draw criticism.
“I don't want to talk about it. It's over,” said Leafs head coach Craig Berube on Tuesday, referencing the Bennett/Stolarz collision.
'I Don't Know Yet': Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Questionable For Game 2 Vs. PanthersAlthough Anthony Stolarz reportedly left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and was evaluated in hospital, there's still a chance, according to head coach Craig Berube, that he starts Game 2 for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As for the netminder, his status remains up in the air for Game 2 and the remainder of the series. His imminent return seems highly unlikely, and the club will likely have to turn to Joseph Woll as his replacement.
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